Dinner. We just needed to get through dinner. And then dessert at my parents’. It was fine. Everything would be fine.
Kendrick touched his lips with his fingers, blinking owlishly at me.
“We should go in to dinner,” I told him quietly, keeping one hand on his lower back as we walked to the table.
I could care less about dinner.
I wanted to kiss Kendrick some more.
I wanted to keep kissing Kendrick and never stop.
This could be a problem.
“This is your parents’ house?” Kendrick asked, staring wide eyed at the overly large, opulent house that was my family home.
He had been quiet throughout dinner, but I hadn’t missed the daggers he had shot Ruby from across the table. Kendrick was a better actor than I imagined he would be, because it had seemed he was staking his claim on me, and not afraid for anyone to see.
Knocking briefly on the door, before I turned the handle, I nodded. “This is it. Prepare yourself.”
Stepping across the threshold, we were inundated with the sounds of yelling, screaming, crying, laughing, and was that someone playing the drums? Rather badly, at that.
Noise.
It’s what comes to mind when I think of my parents’ house. It was why I avoided it as much as possible.
“Balfour!” My name was shouted from all around us, as children rushed towards me. Kendrick wiggled nearer and I instinctively put my arm around him. Elves, even children, weretall. Some were taller than him, but he had spent enough time in the village to know that.
All kinds of questions were shouted at me, and I only caught about a third of them.
“Is this your boyfriend?”
“Is he human?”
“He has red hair like The Santa’s mate.”
“Why is he so tiny?”
“Is he full grown?”
“Stop!” I put up a hand, yelling in the sharpest tone I used when I needed to bring order to the workshop. “Everyone, step back! Let us breathe!”
“Honestly, Balfour,” my mother’s voice admonished, coming into the room. “There’s no need for all the yelling.”
Kendrick snorted beside me, turning his head into my chest, and I swore I felt him laughing.
“They started it, Mother. No one in this house knows how to speak in a normal voice.”
“Children,” Mom made a waving motion with her hands, “shoo! You can meet Balfour’s friend properly in a moment. We’re having dessert soon.”
“Now.” Mom turned her shrewd silver eyes onto Kendrick, looking him up and down. “Introduce us, Balfour.”
“Mom, this is Kendrick Mallory,” I said perfunctory. “Kendrick, my mom, Fallon. And this is my dad, Atlas.” Dad had come from the kitchen, tossing a towel over his shoulders.
“Good to meet you, Kendrick,” Dad held his hand out and they shook. Then he turned to me. “He’s human, Balfour.”
Kendrick gave me a what the actual fuck look, but he was biting his lip trying not to grin.
“I’m aware of that fact, Dad, thank you.”
